Toronto, May 9, 2025 – At least 19 children were killed and 78 others injured in attacks across Ukraine in April, making it the deadliest month for children in nearly three years, Save the Children said.
Last month, at least 97 children were killed or injured in attacks in Ukraine, the highest number of child casualties reported in a single month since June 2022, when 98 children were killed or injured.
On 4 April, a missile attack in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, marked the deadliest single attack on children in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, according to UN verified data. The missile hit a residential neighborhood, striking a playground and nearby apartment buildings, killing a reported 18 people—including nine children—and injuring 75 others, among them 12 children. Many of the casualties occurred in the playground.
In response to the escalating toll on children and their families, Save the Children has been providing urgent assistance to families impacted by the missile strikes, including cash assistance to the families affected in Kryvyi Rih.
Mykhailo, the Cash and Voucher Assistance and Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator, said:
“Sadly, the war continues to affect every corner of Ukraine — the shelling has not ceased, and civilians are bearing the heavy cost. Save the Children is there for families who have lost everything — their loved ones, their homes, their sense of security. Many have nowhere to go. It’s difficult to put these emotions into words: we see tears in the eyes of those affected, but also deep gratitude for the support they receive.”
Sonia Khush, Country Director for Save the Children in Ukraine, said:
“Despite statements and discussions we hear in the media, there has been no respite for children. On the contrary, we continue to see devastating reports of children being killed and injured — on playgrounds, near learning and recreation spaces, even in their beds at night. The rising number of casualties speaks louder than any words or declared intentions. Children need safety now. They must be protected — not tomorrow, not someday, but today. No child should have to plead for safety from violence and attacks — it is their fundamental right to live, grow, learn and thrive in peace, and it is our collective duty to uphold and protect that right.”
Save the Children calls for all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. Civilians and civilian objects, especially those impacting children such as homes, schools, and hospitals, are protected from attack, and all children must be protected from any violations of their rights.
Save the Children has been working in Ukraine since 2014 and has scaled up operations since the war escalated in February 2022. The organisation is working closely with multiple partners and has reached about 256,000 children with protection services by establishing a country-wide network of child-friendly spaces for children to play and communicate, as well as providing mental health and psychosocial support for children, parents and caregivers. The child rights organisation is also training teachers and social workers on psychological first aid (PFA), social and emotional learning (SEL), and basic Psychosocial Skills including self-care.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
· UN rights chief urges probe into Russian attack that killed nine children in Ukraine | UN News
· Ukraine – protection of civilians in armed conflict (April 2025)_ENG.pdf
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